Islanders-Devils: Yann Danis Makes 40 Saves As Isles Blank Devs 4-0

Yann Danis was brilliant tonight, making 40 saves en route to his first shutout of the season, as the New York Islanders defeated the New Jersey Devils in front of 15,000 plus at the Nassau Coliseum.

The game was closer then the final score indicates though, as Danis and Devils goaltender Scott Clemmenson were locked in a goalie duel, until the last four minutes of the game when Kyle Okposo (12th) and Bill Guerin (16th) notched power play goals to break the game open.

The story of the game until then had been the play of Danis.  He faced many high quality scoring chances, but was up to the task as he stopped everything that the Devils threw at him. The Devils had recorded their 30th shot on goal just minutes into the third period.

The Islanders finally started to clamp down defensively though through the third and limit the Devils scoring chances.

Sean Bergenheim opened the scoring for the Islanders a little under four minutes into the game on an odd man rush with Mark Streit. Streit was just leaving the penalty box, and fed Bergenheim with a beautiful pass on a two on one and Bergenheim wristed it past Clemmenson for his eighth on the year. 

Jon Sim scored the Isles second goal in the second alittle less then halfway through the second period on a turnover by Bobby Holik deep in his own zone. Sim took the puck and backhanded it past Clemmenson for his 8th of the season, and second in as many games. 

The teams traded scoring chances through the rest of the game, with each goalie making some brilliant saves until the Isles scored the two powerplay goals in the last four minuted to break open the game. 

All around, it was a much better effort then Thursday night against the Hurricanes. In fact it seemed like a completely different team that showed up. The fans that packed the old barn seemed energized and into this entertaining game as well. 

Stat of the game: The Isles were killed in the face off circle, only winning 17, yes, 17, of 50 face offs for a meager 34 percent. This number has to improve. Maybe calling up a guy like Jermey Colliton from the Bridge would help.

Next up for the Isles: Three days off until they travel to Pittsburgh to take on Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. It'll be the Isles first trip to Pittsburgh since the 9-2 thrashing they took there last time they played there.